[ipxe-devel] [PATCH] [dhcp] Use random transaction ID to associate messages

[Amos Kong]

----- Original Message -----
> ----- Original Message -----
> > On Thu, 15 Sep 2011 21:00:38 +0800, Amos Kong <akong at redhat.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > + netdev->xid = random();
> >
> > This will not work for reboots. The decision that the hardware
> > address
> > is
> > choosen was not accidental. Not sure if some DHCP server will count
> > on
> > the
> > ID. (RFC 2131 "Retain DHCP client configuration across server
> > reboots,
> > and,
> > whenever possible, a DHCP client should be assigned the same
> > configuration
> > parameters despite restarts of the DHCP mechanism"). If not so I am
> > fine
> > with the patch.

Hi Hagen,

rfc2131 clearly describes that we need a random xid,
I don't think xid is a port of "DHCP client configuration",
it only be used to associate messages and responses between client and server.

I would post a patch to ipxe maillist later if it's ok.

Thanks,
Amos

> But a DHCP client should be identified by its MAC, not the xid.
> Y.